Trivia Question

[Boris_Badenov]

This question was brought to mind by a recent article on SDC. <br /> <br />How is the Earth oriented in relation the the plane of the Galaxy? <br /><br />Edit; And to the Galactic Center. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[docm]

In the image below the galactic plane is the horizontal line across the center. The viewer is at the galactic center. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

The first hint I had that the Solar System did not spin in the same plane as the Galaxy was when I bought this poster at the VLA. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

That is an excellent picture. It's much better than anything I have currently. Where did you get it? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[docm]

Just something I ran into on an astronomy forum that no longer exists. I believe the artist, Brian Fenerty, is from Calgary and a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.<br /><br />Edit: Now posted here!<br /><br />AnimGIF of Earths orbit in main image: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/fenertyb/solsys18.gif <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

This is another poster I have on my office wall. It is not as detailed as the one you posted, but it has a terrific amount of varied information, including the position & orientation of the Sol System in the Milky Way. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

Thx, that is a fantastic pic. The orbital motion GIF is very informative. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

I thought the Solar System rotated around the Galactic Center leading with the South Pole. From this pic I'd guess I was wrong & it orbits with the North Pole pointed in the direction rotation.<br /> Is this your interpretation also? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[robnissen]

In the image here, it appears that the sun is smack dab in the middle of the galatic plane, it was my understanding that the sun is offset from the galactic plane???

 

[docm]

Just remembered;<br /><br />Angle of solar system to the galactic plane: 62.6 degrees <br /><br />IIRC the suns orbit around the galaxy is inclined about 1.6 degrees to the galactic plane and its current position is very slightly above it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

"...<i>and its current position is very slightly above it.</i>"<br /><br />There is no above or below in space. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[docm]

OK, it's current latitude is slightly + relative to the plane. <br /><br />Better? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

Heh... better, yes, but it actually makes better sense visually the other way. I know you knew that. Just a little dry humor on my part. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

Get that man some water! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[robnissen]

Interesting. I wonder if the fact that the sun is almost exactly on the galactic plane creates any advantages for life to exist.

 

[centsworth_II]

As already mentioned, the solar system does not stay on the galactic plane,<br />but is inclined to it and so crosses it twice for every revolution around the<br />galactic core. There are theories that these crossings have some effect on<br />possible "extinction events". <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

So the sun is settling into what will eventually <br />be a constant existence on the galatic plane?<br />If this is so, how can the plane of the sun's <br />revolution around the galactic core be said to <br />have any inclination at all? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[lampblack]

I always figured we were living on a sort of sideways planet. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#0000ff"><strong>Just tell the truth and let the chips fall...</strong></font> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

<font color="yellow">"I always figured we were living on a sort of sideways planet."</font><br /><br />You mean 'off kilter'?<img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>